Water-lift.



B. F. STRANGE.

' WATER LIFT. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1912.

Patented July 30, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1. l

WIT MESS/58 1/ I I h ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANO-GRAPH C0,, WASHINGTON. D c,

B. F. STRANGE.

WATER LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1912.

Patented July 30, 1912.

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' ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

BENJAMINFRANKLIN STRANGE, 0F CORVALLIS, MONTANA.

WATER-LIFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1912.

Application filed January 17, 1912. Serial No. 671,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. STRANGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Corvallis, in the county of Ravalli and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Water-Lift, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

My invention relates generally to water lifts and more particularly it is directed to a new and improved structure especially adapted for elevating water to the uplands for irrigation and other useful purposes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for lifting water continuously from a lower level to a higher one especially adapted for use in irrigation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction of the class described which will effectively perform the services for which it was designed, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that the first cost is low while the cost of maintenance is small.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds, all of which is particularly pointed out and included in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the fiume or ditch and the endless track; Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 5; Fig. t is a sectional view of the flume or ditch adjacent the water supply; Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the cars, together with the water lifting device; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 indicates any suitable source of water supply communicating with the lower horizontal end 2 of an open fiume or ditch, while 3 indicates the upper end of the said flume or ditch which communicates with the land or places or machines where Water is desired, the water being conveyed from the supply 1 through the intermediate inclined portion 4 of the Home by suitable means to be presently described. This flume or ditch may be of any desired construction, the size 'lel with the and. length depending on the country in whichthe, outfit is used, such changes being merely matters of' design in adapting the structure to fulfil its purpose.

Adjacent the flume and preferably paralside walls thereof is a rail 5 which is suitably supported on ties 6, these ties being also adapted for engagement with the framework of the fiume whereby a unitary and rigid structure is provided. As shown particularly in Fig. 1, the rail 5 is endless; extending from the upper end of theinclined portion 4 of the flume is the track 7 the rails of which are suitably spaced, the top of the side walls of the flume serving as the track throughout the length of the flume, the lower end of the flume also terminating in a similar track 8 which is connected with the track 7 whereby a closed and endless circuit is provided. The water in the ditch 1 or other supply is lifted upwardly through the flume 4: by means of a suitable pusher which extends into the trough, this pusher being carried on a suitable car, the car being actuated or driven by,

suitable motive power carried thereby or by a separate car, as desired.

The car comprises any suitable platform 9 having axles and bearings thereon whereby suitable wheels 10 may be carried, the wheels being placed apart a suitable dis tance in order that they may ride over the top of the rail 5 and the tracks 7, 8 as well as the top of the inner side wall of the flume extending laterally of the car and over the flume, when the car is adjacent thereto, is a shaft 11 having a pusher l2 movably mounted thereon by means of suitable bearings 13, the pusher being a wooden or metallic element of a width substantially equal to the width of the flume and of a 1 length suflicient to extend at an acute angle from the bottom thereof, as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the outer end of the shaft 11 is provided with a wheel which, when the car is adjacent the fiume, rides along the top of the outer side wall of the flume and, in other positions of the car, on one of the rails of the tracks 7, -8.

The car is designed to be run continuously around the track made up of the parts mentioned, the pusher 12 being positioned in the flume when the car is opposite thereto,

the pusher, however, being raised from the l the shaft being provided with an arm 18,

the end of the arm having an offset portion 19 which engages 1n a suitable strap or equivalent device 20, whereby movement of the lever will raise and lower the pusher. If so desired, the pusher may be suitably strengthened by means of transversely extending stifieners 21, such detail, however, being largely a matter of design. Secured to the upper side of the pusher is a fixed ele mentwhich embodies an upwardly and forwardly extending member 22 which is, in effect a pocket which tends to prevent the undue backward flow, down the flume, of the water which is being, raised or pushed upwardly by upward movement of the pusher through the fiume. The car with the pusher thereon may be moved about the track in any suitable manner, Figs. 3 and 5 showing a separate car 30 having suitable motive power thereon driving the car axle by means of a suitable chain or equivalent device 31, the motor car and the first car being connected in any desired way, as by means of a connecting bar or link 32; it may be desirable in some instances to place the motive power directly on the car carrying the pusher, such construction being optional.

Adjacent the top of the inclined portion 4 of the fiume is a gate or valve 10 pivotally mounted in position; the lower portion of the upper end 3 of the fiume is preferably provided with a pocket 41 into which this gate or valve may be swung when the pusher comes into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby allowing the pusher to remain within the trough until it passes thetop of the inclined portion, the backward flow of the water being thereby prevented. This gate or valve may be gravity-controlled whereby it will be automatic in its action, the gate or valve being mounted on a suitable transversely extending shaft 42 having an arm 43 at its outer end, a weight 44L of suitable mass being suspended at the end of the arm.

The operation of my device is substantially asfollows. The water in the supply 1 being substantially at the level shown in Fig. t, the car and pusher is moved around the track and when thecar comes opposite the lower'horizontal portion 2 of the fiume, the pusher is dropped and the car moved up the incline;the pusher being substantially of the same width asthe flume and resting closely against the bottom thereof, the water within the lower portion of the fiume will be pushed upwardly by the movement of the pusher until it reaches the top of the inclined portion when it will be lifted over into the upper portion 3, the forward end of the pusher 12 engaging and bringing the gate or valve 40 into the position shown in Fig. 3. If the velocity of the car is great, the water will acquire an equal velocity, backward movement of the water in any case being prevented by the pocket formed by the upwardly extending and curved element 22 carried by the pusher; after the pusher passes the top of the inclined portion. .4. of the flume and is raised out of engagement with the bottom, the weight 44 will bring the gate or valve 40 back to operative position, thereby preventing backward flow of the water in the upper end 3 of the flume if the level in that flume is higher than the upper end of the inclined portion 4. The side walls of the upper end 3 of the flume may be recessed if so desired, thereby forming pockets L5 into which the opposite ends of the gate or valve engage, the valve, if so desired, being provided with suitable packing material adapted to engage the sidewalls in order to prevent leakage of the water past the gate or valve.

It is clear that in place of the car with the motive power thereon, positioned beside the flume, I may use any other source of power, the pusher being positioned within the fiume substantially in the manner now shown; in such an event, as when horse power is made use of, theanimals may be hitched to the structure carrying the pusher and the pusher moved upwardly through the flume. Various changes, in fact, may be made in the method of operating the pusher, the question of motive power particularly being adapted to changes depending upon different circumstances.

The operation of the car and the pusher may be continued for any desired length of time, it being obvious that as many cars and pushers may be employed as may be conveniently taken care of, the combined operation tending to afford a continuous supply of water to the upper level where it may be used for .irrigation purposes or otherwise. The length of the inclined portion of the flume will vary in different cases and the height through which the water is lifted will also vary, the construction being easily adapted to different circumstances without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a trough comprising end portions at different levels, and an intermediate inclined portion, the lower end portion being in communication with a supply of water, a rail extending adjacent the trough, the top of the side walls of the trough forming a suitable track, a pusher positioned within the trough and extending at an angle from the bottom thereof, a car mounted on the rail and the top of the trough and movable there-along, a shaft carried by the car, the said pusher being mounted on the shaft, means for raising and lowering the pusher whereby, when the car is moved from the lower end of the trough to the upper end, the pusher will lift an amount of the water.

2. The combination of a trough having end portions at different levels, with an inclined intermediate portion, an endless rail, a portion of which is adjacent the side of the trough, the top of the side walls of the trough forming a track, endless rails communicating with the top of the side walls and being extended parallel to the first rail, a car mounted on the said rails, a shaft extending from the car, a pusher positioned within the trough and mounted on the said shaft, means whereby the pusher may be raised or lowered with respect to the trough whereby, when the pusher is positioned at the lower end of the trough and moved up the inclined portion, a certain amount of the water will be lifted with it, there being means at the top of the trough for preventing backward flow of the water.

3. A water lift comprising a trough having end portions at different levels, with an intermediate inclined portion, the lower end of the trough containing and being in communication with a supply of water, a gate or valve adjacent the top of the inclined portion, an endless rail adjacent the trough, rails in engagement with the top of the side walls of the trough, a car mounted on the said rails, a shaft carried by the car, a pusher carried by the shaft,'the pusher be ing of a width substantially equal to the width of the trough, the bottom of the pusher engaging the bottom of the trough whereby, when the pusher is lowered into the trough at the lower end thereof and moved up the inclined portion, a quantity of water will be lifted with it, the construction and arrange ment being such that the car with the pusher thereon always moves in the same direction.

4. The combination of a trough having end portions at difierent levels with an intermediate inclined portion, the lower end containing and being in communication with a supply of water, an endless rail adjacent the trough, the top of the side walls of the trough forming a track, rails extending from each end of the trough and being extended parallel to the first rail, a car mounted on the rails, a pusher carried by the car and movably mounted thereon, the pusher extending into the trough and engaging the bottom thereof, a movable gate or valve adjacent the top of the inclined portion of the trough whereby, when the pusher'is lowered into the trough at the lower end and moved up the inclined portion, a quantity of water will be lifted, the bottom of the pusher engaging the said gate or valve whereby the same is moved, the water being thereby lifted beyond the gate, the gate closing after the pusher has passed, thereby preventing the backward flow of the water.

5. The combination of a trough, the ends of which are positioned at different levels, the lower end containing and being in communication with a supply of water, the intermediate portion of the trough beinginclined, an endless rail adjacent the trough,...a car mounted on the rail and on the top of the side wall of the trough, a pusher carried by the car, the pusher being positioned in the trough, the bottom of the pusher engaging the bottom of the trough, a pocket carried by the pusher, a movable gate or valve adjacent the top of the inclined portion, together" with means whereby the car may be moved up the inclined portion in order to lift water from the lower end of the trough to the "upper end, the gate or valve moving through engagement with the pusher, together with means for closing the gate or valve after the pusher has passed, thereby preventing the backward flow of the water lifted.

6. The combination of a trough comprising end portions atdifi'erent levels and an intermediate inclined portion, the lower end portion being in communication with a supply of water, a rail extending adjacent the trough the top of the side walls of the trough forming a suitable track, a pusher positioned within the trough, a car mounted on the rail and the top of the trough and movable therearound, means carried by the car and engaging the pusher for supporting the same, and means for raising and lowering the pusher out of and into the trough whereby when the car is moved from the lower end of the trough to the upper end the pusher will lift a certain amount of water.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STRANGE.

Witnesses:

CARL E. MAGIN, GUY COOI-IRAN.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

"Commissioner of Patents, 

